I signed up for a marathon

So I did it... I made a decision and I registered for the Tobacco Road Marathon in Cary, NC on Sunday, March 20th, 2022. 

eeeeeeeeeeeek 😬

Got the beginnings of a plan laid out (my favorite part of signing up for a new race is planning out the training calendar!)... excited to tackle this Big Scary Goal!!

Yikes, only 11 weeks away!

Anyone who cares, I'll be posting stuff to my public insta @run_trek_savasana

Just getting to the end of the year - Week 3/4

Monday

Did: 12 Days of Yeti Day 7 (oops I got off count last week somehow... oh well) + 20 min bodyweight workout

So, today's Yeti challenge was not running-related; we're supposed to choose something new to learn in the near future. Since I was gifted a lovely plant from a friend for Christmas, I have decided to learn how to not kill plants and actually tend to growing, living things. I would love to have a house full of plants and I should start with one or two, before I invest a lot of money into pots of brown things (which is what I currently have). 

This is my snake plant; I've named it Kaa. 

Also did bodyweight workouts in the hotel in the morning.

Workout 1 in 7:37 - 30 RFT: 5 gorilla hops + 5 mountain climbers (R+L=1)

Workout 2 in 10:57 - 30 RFT: 5 pushups + 5 situps 

Tuesday

Did: 6.26 mi @ 9:44/mi avg #10kTuesday

Runnin' in the Florida heat is slowwwwww man. Still, the greenway that I'd found was pleasant enough in the morning! 

12 Days of Yeti challenge today was to send a handwritten note to someone... I haven't done this yet. But I will!

Wednesday

Did: 1.5 mi walk 

Lonnnggggg day of traveling from Florida to Boone, NC - I walked from the hotel to dinner, which was as much exercise as I could muster for the day. Plus, it was cold!

Thursday

Did: About 8 hours of skiing + 25 minute treadmill walk

Whew, what a day! First time taking D skiing, and first time in about 15 years for me... that was an exhausting day, but so much fun. 

I also walked on the hotel treadmill after we got back post-dinner, because apparently skiing does not register as taking very many steps!

Friday

Did: 3.5 mi run

I'd intended to do the 75% 10k tonight, but just didn't have it in me (mentally). Got tired and decided to walk a bit at the end and enjoy the unseasonably warm Christmas Eve weather. Quite peaceful.

Saturday

Did: 12 Days of Yeti Day 12 (90 minute out-and-back run)

Got up earrrrly to get this one done before the day's festivities got started... ran out-and-back towards TR on the Swamp Rabbit Trail and ended up increasing pace on the return trip by about 1:15/mi... felt good to run fast, and again quite unseasonably warm!

Rewarded with this sunrise on the way home

Part of Day 11's assignment was to "create your own sticker"... I ordered mine and am quite excited about them! I love me some stickers! 😁

Sunday

Did: 2 mile walk

Took a lazy day today and walked laps at Runway Park while D played. It was a beautiful, unseasonably warm day!

Yeti days left to make up:

Day 8 - write a letter

Day 9 - slowest mile

Day 10 - 100% 5k

Day 11 - 75% 10k

Just getting to the end of the year - Week 2/4

[Written 12/25] Yep, continuing to catch up on the ol' blog on Christmas day. Let's see what I can remember... 

This week begins the 12 Days of Yeti Challenge (starts Tuesday)!

Monday

Did: 2.1 mi run + 10 min bodyweight workout

Got up and out early for a few miles in the neighborhood before doing the workout:

30 RFT: 5 pushups + 5 jump squats (10:31)

Tomorrow starts 12 Days of Yeti!

Tuesday

Did: 6.68 mi Track Tuesday + 12 Days of Yeti Day 1 (1 mile slow walk = 34:54)

Started out the day with Track Tuesday, 3x1mi (6:52, 6:46, 6:46) - felt great to be back out and running fast!

First day of 12 Days of Yeti: 1 mile very slow walk

Decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights with D.

Selected my banned book and a soundtrack to listen to for the 12 Days of Yeti challenge.

Banned Book

Soundtrack

Wednesday

Did: 26 min bodyweight workout + 12 Days of Yeti Day 2 (30 minute out-and-back = 3.3 mi)

Workout 1 in 10:48 - 40-30-20-10 jumping jacks + sit-ups; then 10-20-30-40 mountain climbers (R+L = 1) + tricep dips

Workout 2 - 5 min sets, 30 sec each of: touchdown squats, flutter kicks, reverse sit-ups, gorilla hops, fast feet, star planks, lateral lunges, Russian twists, plank, rest. Do 3 sets (15 min total).

Ran out 15 minutes, then turned around and headed home... I was too quick on the return and added some extra distance, still made it back right on the 30-minute mark.

Also listened to another soundtrack

Thursday

Did: 7.44 mi Altamont from CVS side (12 Days of Yeti Day 12 - do your favorite route in reverse)

So I did a different take on the "favorite route in reverse" assignment... since Altamont is already an out-and-back route, we decided to run from the opposite side of the mountain. Slightly longer, a few steeper parts, but overall more rolling. Was definitely tough, and a good challenge to add to the mix!

And another soundtrack

Friday

Did: 12 Days of Yeti Day 5 (5 mile run) + bodyweight workout

Assignment for the day was a 5 mile run, so I joined the early downtown group for the Friday Five run which was a great chance to see and run with people I don't often see! 

Did bodyweight workout when I got home:

AMRAP in 12 min: 5 pushups + 5 flutter kicks (R+L = 1) + 5 groiners

After that it was time to pack up and fly out for a week of Christmas visits with family in Florida and a short ski trip!

Saturday

Did: 12 Days of Yeti Day 6 (1 mile 100% effort) - did within a 4-mile run

Ran to the beach to meet Scott & D, and once I'd reached the road that parallels the shore, I did a 1 mile 100% effort (because running towards the shore = headwind!). Ended up with a mile at 6:34, which is not far from my official mile PR of 6:30. Happy with that one!

Sunday

Did: 12 Days of Yeti Day 7 (3 mile progression walk) + bonus mile

Today's assignment was to walk 3 miles and make each one faster than the previous one. Success!

Just getting to the end of the year - Week 1/4

Given how crazy the rest of the year will be, I'm giving myself a "pass" on training for anything while I manage to get through the end of the year. Because, of course, on New Year's Day, everything starts fresh and all the stress and stuff on the To-Do list goes away, right?? 🤡

Anyway.

Monday

Did: 4 mi EZ + 15 min bodyweight workout

Got out for an easy 4 miles on the swamp rabbit trail in the morning. I've really enjoyed these easy miles, listening to podcasts as I run, and just moving the legs at whatever pace feels good.

"12 Days of Xmas"-style, everything is R+L=1
1 30s plank, 2 jump squats, 3 pushups, 4 tri dips, 5 sumo (wide-leg stance) squats, 6 high knees, 7 shoulder taps, 8 glute bridges, 9 spiderman abs (high plank position, bring knee up to touch elbow), 10 mtn climbers

14:55 total time

Shoulders definitely felt that last round!

Tuesday

Did: 6.37 mi @ 8:02/mi avg

Track Tuesday with the downtown crew! Was chillier than I expected it to be, but got in 2x 1mi at a good pace (7:09, 7:03).

Wednesday

Did: 60 min Virtual Power Vinyasa w/ Karina + 10 min bodyweight workout

Virtual live-stream yoga again, this time Karina's noon class - it was tough! Lots of shoulder work with dolphin and planks, plus some good balance postures (airplane, half-moon, crescent twist). 

Harley was obtrusive for a bit.

Dolphin

Side plank w/ toe hold

Airplane

Half Moon - still have to work on looking up at my top arm!

After yoga, finished with a 10-minute AMRAP of 3 jump squats, 2 pushups, and 1 burpee = 31 rounds done!

In the evening, took a long walk in the neighborhood after quite a stressful workday. 

Thursday

Did: 6.6 mi Altamont point-to-point

Decided on a wild idea this morning with the group on Altamont - we ran all the way over! 

The back side is less steep but stretches out longer and is a tough descent after that climb. Fun way to change things up!

::sings:: "All I want for Christmas is to... catch up on my blogs." 🎵 

(dated 12/25/21...yes, that's how far behind I am)

Friday

Did: 18 mins bodyweight workouts + 3.8 mi run/walk

Got the bodyweight workouts done during the day, and ended up with a nighttime run/walk around Furman's campus. It was quite peaceful in the misty rain!

Workout 1 in 7:59

core set! 30-27-24-... russian twists, 20-18-16-... crunches, 10-9-8-... spiderman abs (all down til you get to 3-2-1 reps)

Workout 2 in 8:52

25 RFT: 4 shoulder taps, 4 jumping jacks, 4 tri dips

Saturday

Did: Milliken Earth Run 5k

Enjoyed a morning at the Milliken campus for our home-court cross country 5k (FINALLY) after being delayed over 1.5 years due to COVID. Pretty decent pace even though I wasn't necessarily trying to "race".

Sunday

Did: 4.22 mi run + 12-min bodyweight workout

Just a short run through the neighborhood in the afternoon, plus bodyweight workout.

12:18 for the workout - 

150 up-downs, 100 russian twists, 50 air squats

Another recovery week I guess?

Big events out of the way and not sure what's next... guess we'll call this Recovery Week Part Deux. 

Monday

Did: 1.75 mi walk

Not time for much else... just a walk at work.

Fountain rainbow 🌈

Tuesday

Did: 6.4 mi Track #10kTuesday

Back at the track with the downtown crew! Felt pretty good on 6x 600m.

2:35

2:30

2:31

2:32

2:30

2:31

Skipped the Hot 400 because... everyone was feeling a wee bit lazy. 

Wednesday

Did: 30 min bodyweight workouts + 3.3 mi trail run

Starting back on the bodyweight workouts because it needs to happen! Did two today:

1) Each round is: 5 push-ups + 6 high-knees + 7 mountain climbers; repeat 20 rounds

= 10:02

2) 30-27-24-21-18-15-12-9 reverse sit-ups + 20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6 alternating plank toe taps (L+R = 1) + 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3 single-leg glute bridges (L+R=1)

= 11:51

Then finished up with some arms weights. 

Was able to run the 5k course after work and watched a beautiful sunset as I finished and drove home!

Thursday

Did: 5.8 mi Altamont run

Back on the mountain this morning with a new person joining us! Always fun to add more folks to the crowd (if you can call 4 people a crowd lol). Been a few weeks since I've done this climb so it felt tough but I never regret getting out there early!

Friday

Did: 30 min bodyweight workout

Got this done in the evening after work while watching a movie with Super D. Not a super-focused workout but got it done. Two core-focused workouts felt good!

Workout 1: 

1 min of each: plank, Russian twists, flutter kicks, shoulder taps, plank jacks, rest
Repeat all, 1 min
Repeat all, 30 sec

Workout 2:

AMRAP in 15 min: 5 pushups + 5 flutter kicks (R+L = 1) + 5 Russian twists

Saturday

Did: 60 min Power Vinyasa yoga w/ Marsha

First time attending an in-person class at Soul Yoga, and it was everything I've been missing with my yoga practice. It felt so good to be immersed in the heat, with the music and the meditative words from Marsha. Her message today was about thinking back over the past year (as we often do when coming towards a year's end) and we get to asking ourselves "Did I accomplish everything I wanted to? Did I read enough books? Did I meet my financial or fitness goals?" and we become Human Doings instead of Human Beings. So she talked about acceptance and being... for all that it encompasses, imperfections and shortcomings, everything that we did or didn't get done. It's all part of the experience and it's what makes us human.

Sunday

Did: 10.04 mi @ 7:54/mi

Got out for some early miles on the Doodle Trail this morning for a change of scenery. Turned out to be a nice speedy run and felt awesome!

25 miles for the week, so another low-mile week. Really loved getting back to the track, doing some in-person hot yoga, and getting back to strength workouts. Woot!